Clinton emphasizes economy and her South Texas ties

ROBSTOWN - Hillary Rodham Clinton addressed an overflow crowd at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds, with a populist speech that emphasized jobs and the economy, and her longstanding familiarity with South Texas.

Clinton told the crowd that the next president will face two wars, global terrorism, deficit spending and a country in a healthcare crisis.

Previous versions of her speech emphasized a plan to reduce tax breaks for oil companies and get them to invest in alternative energy – a message not likely to play well in an area whose economy relies heavily on oil refining and exploration. She told the roaring crowd Wednesday that she indeed would address global warming, but also continue drilling for oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico.

She also promised to stop subsidizing the rich at the expense of the working middle class and poor. "We have investment bankers on Wall Street paying a lower percentage of their income than nurses, teachers and truck drivers," she told the approving crowd.

Clinton emphasized her roots in South Texas, telling them she had worked on voter registration drives in the region. She told the crowd she has long ties here.

"I know where South Texas is. I have been to South Texas," she said.

She also emphasized her experience, a thematic jab at her rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

"I see an America where on the first day the president says ‘we've done enough for the wealthy and the well-connected. I see an America where the president says, you know, what's been going on hasn't been fair."

Clinton received an enthusiastic reception at the fairgrounds, with a crowd that exceeded the 6,000 seating and standing capacity of the main pavilion and overflowed into another area that accommodated 1,200. After being introduced by U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, she assured the crowd that if she is elected, she would rely heavily upon Ortiz.

She also mentioned local state Reps. Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, and Ortiz's son Rep. Solomon Ortiz Jr., D-Corpus Christi. She did not mention state Rep. Juan Garcia, D-Corpus Christi, who supports Obama.